The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-07-09

this decision, as we must prepare what
was necessary for his departure that very
dav. Again the long shrill whistle of the
steamboat smote our expectant ears and
INV father came in to say farewell.
81 am going with you, father,' said Jane
ssYou, child What can you do? 1t is
no ,,lace for women" said my father.
"But am going, father, with you, or
without you. Where there is fighting there
must be nurses. am going"
Her calm elaboration was so like his
own that he seemed unable to offer any re-
monstrance. At last he said:
ssBut we may be compelled to 90 out of
the State to pursue our enemyn
Every well, will go also," was all she
said.
Whether she would go in the ranks of
the pursued, or the pursuer, seemed mat
ter Of doubt in my mind, for l was sure
that Richards safety was as much a part
of her plan as was the welfare of our dear
father
Now, / stood alone on the bluff and saw
father and sister borne away, as she and l
had before watched the rebel volunteers;
but there was no glory of sunlight now. A
drizzling rain was falling, and cold chill,
like the days of early autumn, had sue
ceeded the sultry weather, although it was
only the first of August The Missouri
river was now unobstructed as a Federal
highway, and short time sufficed to reach
the forces under Lyon and Sigel, who had
iustcalled their council of war; determined
to give the rebels battle before their own
forces were depleted by the retirement of
the inety-days men. The rich section of
couftry upon which the two armies were
ehcaRped neither was disposed to abandon.
A battle was inevitable. The morning
which opened upon the bloody battle OF
Wilson's Creek found my sister in charge
of department Of hospital supplies, while
my father was commissioned as surgeon.
Only the God of battles might foretell
upon that fateful Friday what should be the
outcome. The heavy LEAKAGE of midsummer
hid from each the opposing forces, and not
until the tramplng and cracking Of the
underbrush announced their proximity was
the battle begun. 1t was brother against
brother, comrade against comrade, Mis-
sourian against MissOurian. Shot-guns and
rifles. with the batteries of the regulars,
soon covered the scene with adense smoke,
while the carnage went on. The deSpera-
ton of despair nerved the intrepid Lyon
after SigePs defeat, knowing as he did the
unequal force at his command. With a
bravery which challenged the admiration of
the world he made that historic charge,
second hardly to that of Balaklava, and
then the hero, Lyon, became the martyr OF
Bloody Hill 1.-The real victor in that days
battle for Missouri. The desperation of
the conflict thrice nerved the Union forces.
My father, seeing the need of men, seized
the musket of a fallen soldier and entered
the ranks but, alas only to be carried
hither and thither as the two armies
swayed from point to point until the order
came at last from the Federal side for re-
treat.
The dead and wounded lay where the
battle had ragged the fiercest. My father
had not been seen since early morning. Ny
sister begged that she might be allowed to
go within the enemy's lines under flag of
truce to discover him if possible.
1t was a strange sight at that stage of the
war, though common enough afterward, to
see woman going over the terrible ground,
but she quailed not. Her resolve was taken.
If my fether was no more, she would offer
herself to the Confederacy to care for their
suffering and wounded men, whom she
knew were far less amply provided for than
were the Federal forces. If Richard Kirby
was living she would place herself under
his protection.
Soc scanned the faces as they lay Tester
ing under tire August sun. but none were
familiar. She was about to turn back, sick
and disheartened, when a group of men
hastily passed her with rudely constr acted
litter. A handkerchief was thrown over
the face of its occupant to screen it from
the sun, but the bit of red cloJh upon the
shoulder betrayed bis rank as Missouri
rebel officer, while from his breast floated
red and white ribbon. With one cry my
sister Jane fell upon the ground. A dozen
chivalrous arms were ready to assist her,
but she could only point to the group that
core their fallen comIade. OWNING her
wish, they followed on to the nearest tree,
when the litter halted, and their burden
was laid down. The handkerchief was
withdrawn and revealed, as she had guessed,
the face of Richard Kirby. The pallor of
death was on his features, but his eyes
opened slowly, and he gaZed around Kneel-
ing beside him she chafed his pallid hands,
and called his name in tones of endearment
He seemed to know she was near him, and
feeb.y breathed her name. Then raising
himself as by a last effort, bis eye fell upon
the ribbon, floating upon his breast Gath
ering them 10 his cold fingers, he drew
forth the little rcsette from its hiding place